Redefining Halal: Halal Animal Welfare Association Calls for Urgent Reform in the Global Halal Industry
By Gemma Ali
Islamic ethics, science, and consumer trust meet in a movement to embed tayyib in every stage of the supply chain.
The Halal Animal Welfare Association (HAWA) is leading a groundbreaking call to action for Muslims worldwide: it’s time to reclaim Halal—not just as a slaughter and cross contamination prevention method, but as a comprehensive system of ethics, purity, and animal dignity.
Founded in 2018 by livestock welfare expert Gemma Ali (MSc, BSc), HAWA is calling for a radical shift in how Halal is understood and practiced, by embedding the Quranic principle of Tayyib—pure, ethical, wholesome—into every stage of the animal’s life, from birth to slaughter and beyond.
“Halal is not just a moment of death and the processes afterwards, it is a way of life—for both the consumer and the animal,” says Ali. “Muslims are called to uphold compassion and ihsan (excellence) in all dealings. Our food system should reflect that.”
A Deepening Crisis in the Halal Industry
Despite growing global demand for Halal products, the mainstream Halal industry remains plagued by serious welfare concerns:
- Inhumane rearing conditions that ignore the basic needs of animals in order to keep up with supply and demand.
- Long-distance live transport with little oversight or accountability when modern alternatives are available to prevent animal suffering.
- Non-necessary Cosmetic products certified as Halal but tested on animals—violating both ethical science and Islamic teachings on unnecessary harm.
Most halal certification systems focus narrowly on slaughter and cross contamination on production lines while overlooking the entire journey of the animal, contradicting both Islamic ethics and consumer expectations.
“We are commanded by Allah to eat what is Halal and Tayyib- not just to pronounce His name over the animal at the time of slaughter, but to ensure that its life and treatment are also just, kind, and responsible.”
A Growing Grassroots Movement
HAWA acknowledges and supports the emergence of a small but inspiring number of independently-run Tayyib farms in the UK and abroad, where farmers are rearing animals with high welfare standards in line with Islamic principles. However these independent initiatives alone are not enough:
“We’re seeing a handful of inspiring farms doing incredible work—but they’re exceptions, not the norm. The wider commercial halal industry urgently needs systemic reform. The consumer cannot carry this burden alone.”
In addition there are welfare assurance schemes around the welfare to audit farms such as Red tractor, RSPCA and Soil Association- however these schemes require stun at slaughter and so exclude those Halal certifiers and supply chains who wish to uphold religious meat production from a Non- stun perspective.
What HAWA Is Doing
Halal Animal Welfare Association (HAWA) is building a new model rooted in Islamic ethics, academic research, and practical solutions:
- Welfare Assurance Scheme – Helping farmers raise animals in accordance with both Islamic values and modern welfare science using a consultancy based approach due to the awareness in different demographics, finances and climates.
- Academic and Community Outreach – Partnering with scholars, regulators, and scientists to influence policy and public understanding.
- QR Code Traceability (coming soon) – Letting consumers verify an animal’s full welfare journey from birth to butchery with the use of QR codes integrated in the welfare assurance scheme for those who want to see more details.
“Our research shows that when Islamic ethics are combined with animal welfare science, the result is a supply chain that’s not only spiritually sound but also more sustainable, humane, and transparent.”
Consumer Awareness and Islamic Accountability
The growing number of Muslim consumers concerned with sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility are demanding change. HAWA believes Muslims have both a right and a religious obligation to ask: Where did this meat come from? How was this animal treated? Was this process just?
About HAWA
The Halal Animal Welfare Association (HAWA) is a UK-based nonprofit founded by Gemma Ali, a livestock welfare and agricultural science specialist currently pursuing her doctorate. HAWA promotes a new vision of Halal that is deeply rooted in Islamic compassion, scientific integrity, and consumer trust.
Website: http://www.halalanimalwelfare.com
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